Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) to John Dev[ereux] DeLacy re: inland navigation, defending Chesapeake Bay
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03084 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) Place Written: Monticello Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1813/07/23 Pagination: 1 p. 23 x 17 cm Order a Copy
Incomplete. Lined verso. The third line up from the end lacks the line "power. There is a proposition now pending in Congress for an amendment" supplied by the polygraph copy at the Library of Congress. De Lacy came from Charleston, S.C. Most of Jefferson's letter concerns the possibility of stationing warships at Lynnhaven ("Lynhaven") Bay at the mouth of the Chesapeake. Jefferson says that he suggested a canal between Lynhaven River to East River, to allow communication between the Chesapeake and its inner waters near Norfolk. (President Madison rejected the suggestion.) Jefferson concludes that the canal (which was not built) could only be made as a military work, not for navigation.
Notes: Not in Bergh or Ford. Text losses supplied in angled brackets from polygraph copy at the Library of Congress. The first line of the bottom third of the letter has been lost; the later note supplies some of the lost text. Jefferson had earlier suggested a Lynnhaven canal in a May 21 letter to Madison (Ford 9: 381-84) which the President rejected in a June 6 response as ineffective against the British warships in the Chesapeake. Malone, Sage of Monticello, p. 114.
Monticello July 23. 13.
Sir
I have duly recieved your favor of the 8th. and entirely concur in opinion with you as to the ease & importance of the inland navigation from St. Mary's to James river and will certainly give it whatever aid may be in my power. As this may be best done by way of letters to those [strikeout] on whom the measure would rest, I return you the blank petition. I go out so little & see so few people that I could do nothing with the petition, altho' <it is one which every> man in the state would readily sign. I am now myself pressing on the government to station from 50. to 100. gunboats in Lynhaven river, as a sufficient defence for the Chesapeak bay & all it's waters. I am satisfied that were such a force there, no vessel of war would ever pass a night in the Chesapeak. But a previous operation absolutely necessary would be to open a Canal from the head of Lynhaven river into the Eastriver, to give a safe retreat to the gunboats if attacked from the shore of the river, and to enable them to go to the defence of Norfolk if attacked. As a military work the government has power to do it; altho' for the mere purposes of navigation they have not the <power. There is a proposition now pending in Congress for an amendment> to the Constitution to give them that power. Accept the assurance of my respect.
Th: Jefferson
Mr. John Dev DeLacy.
[Pencil note, supplying missing text above, in another hand:] * There is a proposition now pending in Congress for an amendment
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